Congresswoman Proposes $2,000 Tax Credit to Turn in Assault Weapons

Published Jan 14, 2013 at 3:16 PM

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 08: Representative Rosa Delauro(D-Conn) speaks during the Meals on Wheels Association of America press conference at the 345 Cannon House Office Building on May 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has introduced legislation aimed to curb gun violence by creating a tax credit to encourage people to turn-in assault weapons to state or local police.

“Let us be clear. Assault weapons are not about hunting or even self-defense and they should be off the streets,” DeLauro said of her proposed Support Assault Firearm Elimination and Reduction for our (SAFER) Street Act. “There is no reason on Earth, other than to kill as many people as possible in a very short period of time, that anyone needs a gun designed for military purposes.”

Police said Adam Lanza used a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle when he went on a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14, killing 20 first graders and six staff members.

DeLauro is proposing a $2,000 refundable tax credit ($1,000 for two consecutive years) for an assault weapon owner who turns in their firearm to the state police.

A Connecticut veteran who owns an AR-15 and wanted to help urge other assault weapon owners to do their part to help prevent future tragedies suggested the proposal, according to DeLauro’s office.

“Particularly if you are a parent or grandparent, the tragedy that happened in Sandy Hook last month is almost overwhelming. Such massacres should not happen in America and we should do everything possible to prevent such tragedies in the future,” DeLauro said in a statement. “In his remarks shortly after the tragedy, President Obama asked ‘Are we doing enough to protect our children?’ The answer, he admitted, is no. The SAFER Streets Act moves us in the right direction.”